Category: Overtraining

CT Fletcher’s Thoughts on Overtraining

It’s a highly debated and controversial topic among the lifting community. Overtraining is exactly what it sounds like.

The body can only handle so much exertion and so much effort put into training at one time (this is still highly debated by some).

The human body is an incredible machine designed by Mother Nature.

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Not only are we capable of pushing ourselves further than we ever thought possible, but the body can also endure a lot of physical pain as well without breaking.

CT Fletcher, however, believes that there is no such thing as too much strain or pain for the body because he doesn’t believe in the ideology of overtraining.

Some people agree with him, and some people hate him for it, but regardless, the guy can prove his results and that he knows what he’s talking about.

A lot of people commonly mistake symptoms of something else for overtraining, which is a very common mistake.

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What Is Overtraining?

When you’re doing fitness activities, your body usually has a set limit that it can handle for that particular activity.

Once you’ve reached that limit and continue to push yourself, that’s what the experts call overtraining.

Some people say that you get no benefit from overtraining because your body is trying to recover but can’t.

CT Fletcher’s View On Overtraining

Ct Fletcher has stated that overtraining isn’t a generalized idea but its individual per person.

Fletcher has stated that what most people consider overtraining; he considers just a regular workout and pushing his body to the limit.

In theory, it makes sense because if people are never pushing themselves but they quit when they get tired, they never really know their body’s physical limitations, and they’re never pushed.

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What Fletcher believes is that most people don’t experience overtraining; they just don’t train hard enough.

So while there are plenty of people out there in the lifting world who do believe in overtraining, what are the signs of overtraining?

A Loss of Motivation

Lifting to your potential requires you to be highly motivated and wanting to succeed.

Some say this isn’t exactly overtraining, but when you lose all your motivation to complete something, you won’t be much use or see much progress.

You have to keep yourself motivated to complete an objective, and that can be difficult when your body starts shutting down or you start feeling the burn.

Being Sore
Everyone feels a good burn after a thorough workout, but what happens when you start feeling that burn over your entire body, and it hurts so bad that you don’t even want to get out of bed?

Some people say that’s just your muscles tearing and recovering, but others state that this is a telltale sign of overtraining and that your body isn’t going to benefit from any exercises while you’re sore.

The Results Stop Coming In

Constantly progressing is about seeing results. If you stop seeing results, then obviously you’re doing something different, or you need to look at your diet.

This is one of the most highly debated topics among the lifting community because a lot of people don’t believe that overtraining will stop you from seeing more results.

However, some people also believe that overtraining won’t allow your muscles ever to recover.

A Lack of Focus

Have you ever been so tired or so unfocused that it was hard to form a sentence or hard to do a task?

This is when you need to give something a rest, even lifting. Perhaps you need to drink more water and get more oxygen flowing into your brain, or maybe you just need some time off from something.

This may not be a sign of overtraining but rather a sign of depression or stress. Overtraining doesn’t cause stress, as this is usually caused by things going on outside the gym.

Common Signs Of Overtraining From Bodybuilders And Powerlifters

Common Signs

The body is a wonderfully efficient, yet delicate instrument. It is incredibly resilient and capable of enduring much physical strain. It is a common mistake for those undertaking a workout program to believe that no amount of strain is too much for the body.

However, the symptoms of overtraining creep in as subtly as lethargy and loss of inspiration, and can progress to severe injuries and a compromised immune system.

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However, the symptoms of overtraining creep in as subtly as lethargy and loss of inspiration, and can progress to severe injuries and a compromised immune system.

So, what is overtraining?

Overtraining is quite common in various fitness activities. It happens when you perform more than your body can recover from, both in and out of the gym. This can take a shorter or less severe variation, often referred to as overreaching or a more severe variation.

However, CT Fletcher, the reigning world champion in professional body building, has a different attitude towards overtraining. He believes overtraining is individualized and, as such, cannot be generalized.

Fletcher holds that what would pass for over-training for one individual would be nothing more than a regular workout to another man. Mr. Fletcher insists that most people never get to a point where they over-train, thus making the term relative.

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So, what are the common signs of overtraining?

Loss of motivation

You know you are getting beyond your limits when you are losing the motivation to get to the gym. This is your body’s way of telling that you need time off to recover because you are doing too much.

Certainly, everyone experiences those days when they do not feel like training. However, if you go days or even weeks without the desire to get to the gym, then you need to listen to your body and get a rest.

Sore feeling, especially after a big workout

If you are getting the right food while working out hard but still feel severe soreness after your training sessions, then chances are you are taking too much at the gym.

This kind of soreness differs from the usual feeling you experience after training as it takes a few extra days to heal and might be a little painful. Overtraining tend to be much common in beginners who do too much too fast.

When you stop seeing results

In case you do not know, too much workout can cause you to shed off the muscle and gain fat! If it were as simple as energy balance, burning more fat than you take in, then the more you work out, the better things would be to you.

However, you need to note that hormones play a huge role in the whole equation. Excessive training can trigger your body to produce low amounts of testosterone while producing high amounts of cortisol. However, the problem is your body increases both fat deposition and insulin resistance.

You lose focus and become restless

This is common in strength or power athletes, or those who work out with intensity intervals.

This happens when your sympathetic nervous system runs into overdrive, triggering restlessness, hyperexcitability and ability to stay focused. This state makes it quite hard for anyone to recover after a workout.

I found a good video from Scooby about overtraining.

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How to avoid overtraining

It takes days, or even weeks, for the body to fully recover from overtraining.

If this is the case, then you may want to take time off your training schedule to recover. However, you can avoid this scenario by training smart while allowing your body adequate time to heal.

Here are a few tips that can help you avoid going beyond your limits at the gym.

Get adequate sleep

Sleep is cheap yet so effective and simple. However, most folks tend to miss the ball when it comes to sleeping.

If you want to realize great results while avoiding the risk of overtraining, then you need to hit the hay an hour or two earlier than you usually do. Sleep is essential because it helps your body recover.

Eat well

Diet plays an important role in your recovery after a workout. Without proper nutrition, you are shooting yourself in the foot well before you can even begin the race.

Just in the same way you would not drive your car without gas, so shouldn’t your workout without proper nutrients in your body.

To avoid overtraining, be sure to have the adequate intake of carbohydrates, proteins, and healthy fats.

Also, be sure to take adequate water. Always remember, your pre and post exercise meals play a key role in your recovery process.

Proper training

You can avoid problems caused by frequent training by having a smart workout schedule. As a thumb rule, only train enough to elicit the desired response.

Never work out to the point where you need up to two weeks to recover from a single session. It is advisable that you rest between lifting sessions as much as you can and avoid heavy full body training lifts one or two days consecutively.

CT Fletcher does not advocate that you do what he does. Thus, it is important that you know your training limits. Being sensitive to the signs of overtraining can help you avoid injuries that can sideline you from the gym for a long time.

Remember, workout results do not happen overnight, so be sure to pace yourself and approach exercises with care and caution.

CT Fletcher vs. Powerlifter

With everything and person that is popular, there’s bound to be people out there that want to start trouble and people who will hate you just because of your success.

There are no exceptions to this rule, EVERYTHING that becomes popular gains enemies just because of the fact it’s popular.

Not long ago, CT Fletcher found himself on the receiving end of this.

Now, while CT Fletcher has had many anonymous enemies of discussion boards, bodybuilding videos and body building forums, this one was a very particular case.

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The individual who started the video won’t be named but he was a widely popular power lifter who decided to call out CT Fletcher and basically tell him that everything he spouts off is a lie.

Was he looking for attention? Did he just want more people to come to his channel to rack up the views? Or maybe, is it just the way of life on the internet?

Right after CT Fletcher saw this video, he immediately created a response, with badass style.

CT Fletcher’s Response To The Power Lifter

He starts off with a video acknowledging that he’s seen the video and that he was asked not to respond to it.

While he didn’t exactly take that advice well, he did play it off smartly because he refused to name off the person who had made the video in the first place.

If this guy’s plan was to rack up more views and subscribers by targeting CT Fletcher, well he made a mistake, because that didn’t exactly work. That’s how most rivalry’s work.

When one person finds they have an enemy, they share banter back and forth on the internet and keep naming each other off.

Both sides gain the same amount of attention and fans backing them up. With CT Fletcher keeping his name in the dark, that kind of leaves him at the minority.

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CT Fletcher’s Motivation – “Just do what you can do”

He makes videos just to inspire minds, get people off of the couch and achieve fitness results.

He never asks for anything in return.

Do you know how hard it is (especially today) to find someone on the internet willing to give advice away that wasn’t trying to sell you some over hyped product or some marketing BS jargon?

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The Power Lifter YouTube Channel Gets Deleted

It wasn’t long after making that video, that CT Fletcher’s internet audience quickly started flagging that video and every other single video on that account.

Not long after, the entire YouTube account that started uploading those videos was removed.

The entire YouTube account that started uploading those videos was removed.

Why is that?

It could have been because he was promoting the use of steroids

It could have been his foul language (he was way worse than CT Fletcher)

Have been how racist/homophobic he appeared to have been in some of his videos

This is the same power lifter who appeared as the roid rager on the popular Comedy Central television show, Tosh.0.

At the end of the day, CT Fletcher handled the drama like a boss, ignored his request for attention, addressed him for the punk that he was and he became internet history with no trace of him and nothing to show for his rant.